The Omaha Bugle-Global News Network

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A thought-provoking look at the news--offering entertaining insights into politics, economics, and popular culture--which are occasionally grounded in actual facts.

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155 episodes
Updated June 25

Episodes155

Newest first

Jul 6, 2023 · 20 min
Part One: The Supreme Court Strikes Down the Biden Student Loan Forgiveness Plan
Send us Fan Mail Adam and Jeff discuss the recent 6-3 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down the Biden Administration's plan to forgive $400 billion in student loans. Unfortunately for the free-wheeling President Biden, the Court ruled that he does not have the authority to waive his magic wand and make loan obligations of up to 46 million borrowers disappear. Because the U.S. Congress is empowered to appropriate money, the Court concluded that it is also the only branch of government that is authorized to forgive debts, particularly when they run into the hundreds of billions of dollars. Adam and Jeff wonder why the geniuses running the White House think it is a good idea to saddle the unpaid loan obligations of those who chose to attend college on those who either did not attend college or who did attend college and paid off their student loans. They also point out that Biden's loan forgiveness program seemed to be little more than a blatant attempt by the Administration to pander to a large constituency of voters--regardless of the amount of stress it could cause the economy as a whole.
Jul 6, 2023 · 25 min
Part Two: The Biden Loan Forgiveness Scheme is Just Another Sign of Financial Dementia in Washington
Send us Fan Mail Though currently embroiled in contract negotiations with the corporate brass at the Omaha Bugle, Adam and Jeff continue with their discussion about the loan forgiveness plan proposed by President Biden which was recently struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. They view the Administration's cavalier attitude about adding another $400 billion to the national debt as symptomatic of a bigger problem in the D.C. bubble: Very few people in power seem to care about the economic lunacy in which trillions of dollars are borrowed each year with little concern as to how it will ever be paid back. Jeff points out that this borrowing is causing the interest on the national debt to explode and resulting in a crowding out effect that will impact popular government benefit programs. According to Adam and Jeff, the fact that any public giveaway makes you feel good is probably a sign that you should not do it at all. They also point out that cranking up the government printing presses never ends well because it does not ultimately lead to the production of more goods and services. Instead, it causes inflation to increase the prices of everything from food to housing to gasoline and typically outstrips any increases in earning power by workers.
Jul 2, 2023 · 31 min
The Omaha Bugle Makes an Offer to Taylor Swift. . . . The Supreme Court Ends Affirmative Action Programs in College Admissions
Send us Fan Mail The Board of Directors of the Omaha Bugle authorizes Jeff and Adam to offer $1,000.00 to Taylor Swift, an up-and-coming singer-songwriter, to compose a new overture for the show. Adam even tries to sweeten the offer by offering to give Taylor a few master-class guitar lessons. Jeff and Adam then discuss the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down affirmative action programs in college admissions. Jeff believes that this impact will be felt more at the most prestigious schools because most second-tier colleges are having difficulty simply filling up their classes and will likely admit almost anyone who can "fog a mirror and write a check. " Jeff also argues that there is no codified discriminatory laws in existence that would support any claims that America is systematically racist. Indeed, the Supreme Court seemed to view affirmative action as having outlived its usefulness because there is no logical endpoint to these sorts of preferential programs.
Jun 26, 2023 · 27 min
Are there Two Separate Judicial Systems in the United States? . . . The Omaha Bugle Offers a Job to Harry and Meghan
Send us Fan Mail Adam and Jeff discuss the recent settlement of income tax evasion charges by Hunter Biden in which he was given probation if he promised to try very hard to pay his taxes in the future. Jeff acknowledges that Hunter Biden must have had very good lawyers because the typical outcome of a tax evasion charge is a lengthy trial with the attendant public ridicule followed by a few years in a federal prison. Adam doubts that any member of the Omaha Bugle would have received such lenient treatment. Adam and Jeff point out that the IRS is not shy about sending notices warning of tax liens being filed against a taxpayer's property when it determines that taxes are owed. The fact that it took 5 years to resolve these charges against Hunter Biden raises some questions (not really) as to whether there is a different standard of justice for some individuals and not others--depending on their family connections. Jeff also announces that the Omaha Bugle is trying to persuade America's favorite couple, Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, to become roving social commentators so that they can offer their keen insights on the issues most important to everyday Americans.
Jun 26, 2023 · 29 min
Does Economic Development Lead to Democracy? . . . Is Climate Change A Function of Capitalism?
Send us Fan Mail Still smarting from not having been invited to the bigwig economic conference in Davos, Switzerland, Adam and Jeff consider some of the changes caused by globalization over the past 30 years. They also discuss whether a country with no democratic tradition (name any country that the United States military has ventured into in the past 50 years) can become a functioning, self-sustaining democracy. The current arguments over "climate change" formerly known as "global warming" formerly known as "global cooling" are recounted by Adam and Jeff. They conclude that climate change has been going on as long as the earth has existed; the debate is over the extent to which humans are contributing to what many believe are increasingly volatile weather patterns.
Jun 24, 2023 · 29 min
Could China Win A War Against the United States? . . . What Military Can Best Project Power Around the World? . . . Has Anyone Seen Tucker Carlson?
Send us Fan Mail China's continuing threats against Taiwan, its Asian neighbors and, basically, the rest of the world except for a few scattered grubby dictatorships and thugocracies illustrate its hostility to the current international legal and economic system. Renowned armchair geopolitical experts Adam and Jeff consider the likelihood that China could successfully invade Taiwan even though it has never historically projected military power very far beyond its borders. The United States, by contrast, has utilized its worldwide military presence to become involved in one remote war after enough, usually in countries lacking luxury hotels and Michelin-rated restaurants. Jeff also points out that the highly-successful Rent-A-Royal program is reaching out to Prince Harry in view of his having lost a $20 million Spotify deal so that Harry could supplement his income by cutting ribbons at a couple of fast food restaurants and perhaps attending the occasional wedding as a "plus one." Finally, Jeff bemoans the fact that Tucker Carlson has still not shown up for work, despite the proximity of his shared cubicle to the office vending machines.
Jun 16, 2023 · 28 min
Why Does Joe Biden Keep Falling Down? . . . Is Joe Biden too Old to be President?
Send us Fan Mail The grossly-overpaid podcasting dream team of Adam and Jeff wonder why Joe Biden keeps falling down flights of stairs. They conclude that his recent mishaps are probably not merely his personal renditions of traditional Serbo-Croatian folk dances. Jeff points out that the Biden family, which is renowned throughout the world for its business prowess, is missing out on the opportunity to have President Biden be the "face" of the company that markets medical alert devices that go off whenever the wearer falls down. Adam and Jeff rack their brains to come up with safer ways to get President Biden up the stairs of Air Force One including building a special golden throne that the President could sit upon while being lifted upward by four swarthy attendants accompanied by the sounds of "Hail to the Chief."
Jun 12, 2023 · 26 min
Should Companies Donate Money to Charities?. . . Can You Have A Charity that only Gives to Its Own Officers?
Send us Fan Mail Adam and Jeff discuss whether corporations should donate company funds to charities of any sort. Because companies are owned by shareholders, they argue that the corporate officers themselves should not be able to allocate monies for their own pet projects or political causes. They also look at the Bud Lite marketing debacle whereby Anheuser-Busch hired a trans activist to reach a new younger progressive audience which does not drink beer while also managing to alienate their core conservative blue-collar audience. They also talk about some of America's worst charities.
Jun 9, 2023 · 28 min
Digital Dollars: A Solution in Search of A Problem?
Send us Fan Mail With cryptocurrencies posing a possible threat to the currency monopoly enjoyed by national governments, Adam and Jeff discuss the possible advantages and disadvantages of a digital currency backed by the full faith and credit (or whatever is left of it) of the United States. Both are skeptical that there is any real benefit to be obtained by a full-blown switch to a digital currency because it would allow well-meaning nosy government bureaucrats to track every expenditure made by every citizen. More to the point, if the government knows how you spend every dollar, then they can tax every dollar as well. Adam and Jeff are not overly confident that the government would use the additional tax dollars any better than they have in the past. They are also concerned that such information could be used to construct a social credit system similar to that now being used in the sunny worker's paradise of China in which each individual's actions can be penalized or rewarded based upon the favorability with which they are viewed by the all-knowing government overlords.
Jun 1, 2023 · 35 min
Is Mathematics Racist? . . . Is America a Meritocracy or an Idiotocracy?
Send us Fan Mail Adam and Jeff (who are not known for their mathematical skills or their ability to solve a Rubik's cube) examine whether mathematics is racist. They suggest that the fact that much of modern mathematics was created by European pigment-deprived men does not mean that mathematics itself should be viewed as somehow hostile to non-white minorities. The claims of racism seems to be more a sociological argument which focuses on disparate achievement levels in mathematics by different ethnic groups. However, Adam and Jeff suggest that trying to dumb down mathematics in the name of equity so that everyone can pass the same class exams is nothing more than bigotry; those arguing in favor of equal outcomes apparently do not believe that non-white students can learn mathematics. Jeff thinks that the equality of outcome argument is a byproduct of our society become less disciplined and less appreciative of the value of an education, particularly one that includes rigorous topics such as mathematics, chemistry and physics--even though he acknowledges that the United States is producing thousands of world-class gamers.
May 24, 2023 · 26 min
The Omaha Bugle Covers the Coronation of King Charles in 26 Minutes. . . . Can King Charles Save the Monarchy? . . . Do You Need to Have a Lesser Royal Attend Your Social Function?
Send us Fan Mail Adam and Jeff congratulate the newly-crowned King Charles but are still somewhat bitter about having been left off the guest list. The coronation organizers' failure to coordinate scheduling times with the broadcasting segments of the Omaha Bugle is pointed out. Adam suggests that the challenge for King Charles is to make the monarchy more relevant and more efficient in a less-deferential age. Adam and Jeff complain about the lack of royal etiquette in that neither King Charles nor his toadies have bothered to return any calls from the Omaha Bugle ever since he got his big promotion. The on-going popularity of the Rent-A-Royal program is discussed with kudos to Prince Andrew who will show up at events ranging from weddings, funerals, and ribbon-cutting ceremonies for newly-opened fast food restaurants. Jeff also talks about the Omaha Bugle's ill-fated attempt to embrace British cuisine in the company cafeteria featuring such delicacies as tripe and haggis--which sent several interns to the emergency room. Despite the snubs by Buckingham Palace, however, Adam and Jeff wish King Charles well and hope that he can establish his own unique and heartwarming style.
May 24, 2023 · 32 min
Can China Bring Peace to Ukraine and Russia? . . . Should Ukraine and the West Encourage China's Peacemaking Efforts?
Send us Fan Mail Adam and Jeff discuss recent negotiations by the corporate offices to bring an up-and-coming talent named Tucker Carlson to the Omaha Bugle so he can learn first-hand about becoming a hard-hitting journalist. Jeff talks about China's recent role in helping Iran and Saudi Arabia agree to restore diplomatic relations--at least until they decide to sever them again. China's recent offer to try to mediate an end the Russia-Ukraine was is also pooh-poohed by our erudite broadcasters as Ukraine wants all of its territory back and Russia want to keep those parts of Ukraine including Crimea that it has illegally occupied. China's approach is to offer platitudes about respecting each nation's territorial integrity but not specifying if that means respecting what would be Russia's new territorial borders if it were to keep the occupied lands in Ukraine. Because Russia and China have pledged to be best friends forever (BFF), China's role as an impartial peacemaker is dubious at best. Because China is not known for doing anything altruistic, Ukraine and the West are suspicious that China is really just trying give its BFF a face-saving way out. Whether Putin--the man responsible for wreaking such death and destruction on Ukraine--deserves a face-saving solution (as opposed to a war crimes trial) is highly debatable.
May 24, 2023 · 30 min
Does the Debt Ceiling Really Matter? Does Anyone Care About Balancing the Budget?
Send us Fan Mail Adam and Jeff discuss the always popular battles that occur on Capitol Hill every year or so about increasing the debt ceiling. Although the debt ceiling was created to require Congress to go on record to approve ever-greater spending, it does not seem to have deterred too many politicians from larding up the system. Adam and Jeff believe drunken sailors are unfairly maligned as example of irresponsible spending when they in fact do not spend more money than they have on hand whereas the geniuses that run the federal government do not let such mundane issues as the amount of revenues received constrain their profligate ways. They also talk about the true peril posed by ever-increasing deficit spending--the huge increases in the costs of financing the national debt. They also express concern about the proposed creation of a national digital currency which would enable the powers-that-be to monitor every financial transaction carried out by every individual and--not surprisingly--tax every such transaction.
May 8, 2023 · 25 min
Does Moral Hazard Exist in the Banking System? . . . Who Picks Winners and Losers in the Financial World? . . . Will This Time Be Different?
Send us Fan Mail The Omaha Bugle broadcast considers whether the concept of moral hazard exists in an age where the federal government seems hell-bent on rescuing every bank from every self-inflicted wound. Adam and Jeff wonder who decides which banks survive and which banks are allowed to go out of business. They are surprised that the people in power at both the banks and the federal government invariably forget about the circumstances that led to the previous banking crisis. They are also shocked that such smart people seem to do such stupid things in terms of bank management over and over again. Adam and Jeff conclude that they should open up the Omaha Bugle Bank because they could not do any worse than the credentialed "geniuses" who have managed to destroy trillions of dollars of shareholder value in numerous failed banking ventures over the past few decades.
May 8, 2023 · 24 min
Are Property Rights Disappearing? . . . Are Homeless People Allowed to Camp Out in Front of the Homes of Government Officials? . . . Has the Rule of Law Become the Rule of the Ruling Class?
Send us Fan Mail Recent decisions by California and Oregon to allow homeless people camping in front of residences and businesses to sue property owners for "harassment" are considered by Adam and Jeff. Would social justice warriors be so enthusiastic to have homeless camps in their own neighborhoods? Do government officials even try to solve intractable problems such as homelessness or do they merely want to look like they are trying to do something? Why are some states doubling down on self-destructive policies that are driving aways hundreds of thousands of taxpayers? Do people care more about not infringing upon the rights of homeless individuals than they do about actually helping these same persons through more "coercive" approaches such as providing housing with security guards and implementing strict personal conduct rules?
Apr 24, 2023 · 24 min
The Pentagon Reassures Americans Yet Again That It Will Impose New Guidelines to Prevent More Classified Document Leaks. . . . Can We Do a Better Job Protecting National Secrets?
Send us Fan Mail Adam and Jeff talk about the latest digital dump of classified documents and draw comfort from the Pentagon's soothing assurances that it will not happen again--at least not this week. They also wonder why a Department of Defense budget of nearly $800 billion apparently does not have much funding for designing software to compartmentalize document retrieval systems. Adam thinks we were far more secure during World War II when anyone who wanted to steal a classified document had to sneak into the building in which it was stored and then physically remove it or photograph it page by page and then escape without getting caught. Jeff thinks that there are too many bureaucrats in the Pentagon who have too much access to classified documents; this problem is further compounded by the fact that many individuals are accessing classified documents from remote locations using their laptops. Unfortunately, these laptops tend to get left behind in hotel rooms, restaurants, planes, and massage parlors.
Apr 24, 2023 · 31 min
Adam Nearly Gets Banned By Facebook. . . . Donald Trump Gets Arrested for Imaginary Crimes
Send us Fan Mail Adam talks about the trauma of nearly being banned from Facebook due to his having posted a quote by an urban terrorist named Benjamin Franklin. Jeff wonders if the Facebook punk determining the worthiness of Adam's posting even knows anything about Benjamin Franklin. Adam and Jeff point out that many people would simply prefer to silence individuals having opposing points of view because it is far less taxing than actually debating the merits of a given topic. Both Adam and Jeff see the arrest of Donald Trump for paying a stripper hush money as the newest level of vindictiveness by politicians who are trying to prosecute Trump for crimes that either do not exist or have already been barred by the statute of limitations. They also wonder how the district attorney prosecuting Trump was able to run on a platform to get Trump and still have any credibility as an impartial public servant. The danger of this "banana republic" vindictiveness in going after a former President so that he cannot win another presidential election is also considered, particularly once the karmic wheel rolls back around the other way.
Mar 13, 2023 · 24 min
The World's Most Dangerous Jobs
Send us Fan Mail Adam and Jeff acknowledge that their office jobs which require them to labor under harsh florescent lighting and bear the discomfort of irregular air-conditioning cycles are, surprisingly, not among the most dangerous jobs in the world. Indeed, the U.S. government has published a survey that states the top U.S. job in terms of deaths per 100,000 workers is logging, followed by fishing and hunting. Jeff points out that the perils of logging are accentuated by the fact that very big trees can fall on loggers who happen to be standing in the wrong place at the wrong time. Fishers, by contrast, can be hit by swinging crab pots or whipsawing winch lines or simply fall overboard. However, these jobs are a walk in the park compared to that of the Russian oligarch, whose members frequently die under what cynical individuals would consider to be "suspicious" circumstances such as falling out of hotel windows, dying from drug-induced heart attacks, hangings, and suicides involving dozens of gunshot wounds.
Mar 10, 2023 · 44 min
Joe Biden Signs an Executive Order Ending Racism and Bigotry Forever!
Send us Fan Mail The Omaha Bugle's highest-paid correspondents, Adam von Romer and Jeff Weaver, discuss President Biden's most recent executive order which is designed to promote "equity" and support underserved communities even though it has, by its own statement, no legal effect. They conclude that this executive order is little more than a sop to the far-left wing of the Democratic Party. Jeff points out that executive orders are little more than presidential vanity projects because they typically get overturned by the next administration. Moreover, this executive order is geared to combatting "racial inequality" by essentially encouraging redistributive justice (e.g., money) by using terms such as "underserved communities" to avoid ethnic or racial terms that would be struck down by a court. Although this order has received a lot of attention, Jeff considers it as nothing more than a puff piece that has no real teeth and does not divert from the antics that the equity police in the federal government have already been involved with up to this point for many years.
Mar 10, 2023 · 31 min
Is the U.S. to Blame for Russia's Invasion of Ukraine? . . . China's Topsy-Turvey View of the World . . . How Eternal is the Eternal Alliance Between Russia and China? . . .
Send us Fan Mail Adam and Jeff discuss China's most recent statements blaming the United States for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. They point out that China--which is seeking to end the liberal economic trading system--has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the open markets that have been encouraged and protected by the United States for the past seven decades. China's vulnerability to any oil supply disruptions and its heavy reliance on the export markets of the countries it routinely insults and attacks are highlighted. They also discuss China's hyper-aggressive reaction to any real or imaginary challenges posed by other countries and conclude that China is not a warm and friendly country that has any actual allies in the real world. As such, it is vulnerable economically to concerted actions by the West even though its shrieky representatives do not seem to know when they should stop their endless diatribes. Adam and Jeff conclude that the war in Ukraine has become one of attrition, much like the trench warfare of World War I in which both sides have dug into fortified positions in the eastern four provinces that Russia illegally annexed. As such, there may be no real prospect for ending the war so long as President Putin remains in power.